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Chapter One

Liv Crawford sifted through boxes and bags, taking a mental inventory of what items needed to be saved She sat on a crate in the lected space tickling the inside of her nose Old containers and ribbon filled the box to her left Bowls, baking pans, and rusty utensils filled the one to her right As for saving anything, it looked like a trip to the dump was in serious order

The bakery was filthy It was stale But it was hers

The baking world certainly had changed in the last two decades—for the better The yellowed and azines she'd sorted and piled high in front of her reflected that change She reached for another bag of hed, whipping her black hair across her face

She'd been sneezing frounk and dust coating everything froister The walls were yellowing and in desperate need of soe curtain that separated the storefront from the kitchen Despite its pathetic state, Liv couldn't stop the s across her face

The happy jingle of the bell hanging on the door forced her attention to the front of the store as Austin Reid barreled in waving a newspaper

Her best friend took two quick steps inside before he noticed the debris blocking his way and almost toppled over the boxes He cursed “You're a celebrity You're on the front page of the Living section,” he shouted

Liv giggled

He hadn't bothered to style his blond hair today, his cowlick in the front very apparent, and the slight growth of stubble on his face was an indication of only one thing—he hadn't been hoht before

Austin trudged toward her, sidestepping the dirty iteed his expensive shoes

He looked around, hugging the newspaper close to his chest The look of exhilaration he'd flashed not ten seconds before slowly turned into a frown “This place is—”

“Perfect?”

Austin's frown deepened as he took in his surroundings A slight s to say a dump, but that, too”

“Give rabbed at the newspaper

Last Nove as an employee of Sweet Creations bakery They'd immediately hit it off, but Liv had no idea Katie was a writer for a local newspaper She was even more surprised when Katie's brief interview turned out to be a feature

She held out the pages for both of thee?” Please let it be yes

“Yes, ma'am, and I especially like this part…” Austin cleared his throat and read, “Liv Crawford, soon-to-be cupcake entrepreneur, is the next big thing in pastry arts Toronto, watch out for this rising star”

Her stomach rolled The tiny balls of excite inside ever since she'd walked through the front door holding her freshly signed lease burst like fireworks

It had taken five long years of saving and planning—for the location, getting pre-approved for the bank loan, setting up the insurance—but she was finally ready to venture out on her own and open a bakery All without the encourage for her mentor, Nancy Arbour

Yet Liv knew her tirab the baking industry by the piping bag and introduce the city of Toronto to Cupcake!—her new bakery

Austin's finger tickled under her chin “This place is too dirty to leave youropen like that”

She snapped herher head Was it too soon to think that this type of publicity was exactly what she needed to put her business on the map?

Liv rabbed onto each other and ju Or, Austin tried to squeal, but with the baritone of his voice it carunt